Method for fabricating intra-uterine contraceptives

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method of fabricating intra-uterine contraceptives, the said contraceptives comprising an elongated component (2), a copper wire spiral (3) placed around the elongated component (2) and a crosswise component (1) attached essentially by its middle point to one end of the elongated component (2). The elongated component (2) essentially of equal diameter throughout its length and the crosswise component (1) lateral to the elongated component (2) and attached to it by its midpoint are formed into a single contiguous piece. A separate copper wire spiral (3) is placed over the elongated component (2) via its unobstructed end, whereafter a sleeve (4) is then attached to support the copper wire spiral (3).

This invention relates to a method for fabricating intra-uterinecontraceptives.

Currently there are two kinds of copper-plastic spirals. One kind isformed of a contiguous shaft component and of a laterally outwardextending crosswise component. The spiral component consists of copperwire wound around the elongated shaft component. The said method offabrication is disadvantageous because the spiral component has to beseparately wound over the shaft component. In addition, the copper wirespiral in the known solutions has been wound around the entire elongatedshaft component in which cases, as is known, the copper around the baseof the elongated shaft component does not possess an effectiveinfluence. The other kind of copper-plastic spirals have been designedto be such that their copper wire spiral extends only as far as theshaft component's upper half. This kind of a contraceptive isconstructed in such a manner that the shaft component and the crosswisecomponent are separate. The lower part of the shaft component is thickerthan the upper part around which the copper wire spiral has been placedprior to assembling the contraceptive. In this way, the lower part ofthe shaft component and the union between the shaft component and thecrosswise component hold the copper wire spiral in place. The latterkind of spiral is described in the FI patent publication 59719.

One disadvantage of the contraceptive in accordance with the said FIpatent publication is that there is a connection between the shaftcomponent and the crosswise component which, on the one hand, isdifficult to implement and, on the other hand, may be susceptible tostrain owing to its thinness. The arched locking component constitutes aprotrusion which may be a cause of pain in the uterus. The design inaccordance with the second implementation in the FI publication isintended to remedy this. The said solution does, however, make thecrosswise component more complex in form.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improvement to the abovesaid disadvantages. This improvement is characterized in the main thatthe elongated component is essentially of equal diameter throughout itslength and the crosswise component lateral to the elongated componentand attached to it by its midpoint are formed into a single uniformpiece and that a separate copper wire spiral is placed over theelongated component via its unobstructed end, whereafter a sleeve isthen attached to support the copper wire spiral.

The main advantage of the invention is that it eliminates the need forthe head required for the snap-on union between the crosswise componentand the shaft component. As a result of this, the external diameter ofthe elongated component can be reduced, thereby enabling the diameter ofthe copper wire to be increased.

We shall now go on to describe the invention with references being madeto the accompanying drawing, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the elongated component and the crosswiseoriented component.

FIG. 2 is a side view like FIG. 1, but with the spiral included;

FIG. 3 is side view like FIG. 1, but with a sleeve included on theelongated- and crosswise components, the said sleeve having a hole boredinto it for the purpose of attaching the sleeve to the elongatedcomponent.

With reference to FIG. 1, we shall now go on to describe the invention.In FIG. 1, 1 is the crosswise component, 2 is the elongated lengthwisecomponent. In accordance with the method, the lengthwise and crosswisecomponents, the said components constituting a contiguous piece, arefabricated first. The crosswise component is formed to be curved at bothends. The contiguous piece is formed in such a manner as to eliminatethe occurrence of any sharp points or edges.

FIG. 2 shows the copper wire spiral, indicated by reference number 3,which is attached around the upper part of the lengthwise component.This spiral has been made into a spiral-like structure by means known tocraftsmen. The thickness of the copper wire is that commonly used; e.g.0.5 mm.

FIG. 3 shows the contraceptive over whose elongated lower part a sleevehas been placed in such a manner that the said sleeve supports thecopper wire spiral 3. The sleeve 4 has been provided with a hole 5 burntthrough it for a string 6. The purpose in burning the hole is also toprovide a lasting connection between the elongated component 2 and thesleeve 4 as a result of the melting and recooling of plastic in both thesleeve 4 and the elongated component 2.

The attaching of the sleeve to the elongated component 2 can beimplemented, for instance, by means of a snap-on union, ultra-sonictreatment, heat treatment, etc. An advantageous way of joining sleeve 4and the elongated component 2 is, however, by burning the abovementioned hole 5 into the sleeve.

The spiral is fabricated in accordance with the following stages:

A) An uniform piece, comprising an elongated component and a componentoriented crosswise to the elongated component and joined to one end ofit and possessing symmetrically curved ends, is formed.

B) A ready-to-use copper wire spiral is placed over the elongatedcomponent via the unobstructed other end of the elongated componentformed in the previous stage.

C) A sleeve is inserted to provide support for the copper wire spiralvia the same end as the spiral. A hole is then burnt through that end ofthe sleeve which is opposite the end in contact with the spiral for thepurpose of slipping a string into the hole and to fasten the sleevefirmly over the elongated component.

It is also possible to make such a hole through the sleeve as will alsopass through the elongated component. When this is done, it may be thatthese components are attached to one another only by means of thestring.

The copper wire spiral can be replaced by other materials withcontraceptive properties such as enzymes or other materials made ofother substances. In the case of enzymes, the contraceptive substancemay, for example, be tubular or rod-like in form when fabricated.

We have described the invention with reference being made to only one ofits advantageous implementation examples. It is, nevertheless, clear toa craftsman in the particular line of industry that the method inaccordance with the invention can be implemented in the fabrication ofcontraceptives differing in outward shape, such as T-shaped spirals. Allmodifications within the inventive idea defined by the patent claimsare, naturally, possible.

We claim:
 1. A method of fabricating intra-uterine contraceptives,comprising the steps of:forming a single uniform piece having anelongated component having a free end and being essentially of equaldiameter throughout its length and a crosswise component having amidpoint and being lateral to the elongated component so that saidcrosswise component is attached to said elongated component by itsmidpoint; placing a separate contraceptive member over said elongatedcomponent via its free end; and introducing a sleeve via said free endover said elongated component to support the contraceptive member;burning a hole into said sleeve to achieve the connection between saidsleeve and said elongated component and burning a part of said elongatedcomponent which upon cooling forms a firm connection between saidelongated component and sleeve.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1,including the step of burning the hole also in the elongated member andensuring the connection between said sleeve and said elongated componentby inserting a block, string or a rivet in the hole.